Preliminary Build spec sheet...your thoughts?

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PSUPef2k

Senior member
Mar 1, 2006
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I have just started researching my next build. I am going to go with AMD this time around and would like some opinions on my proposed build. Any thoughts and/or suggestions are welcome.

Thanks and I look forward to my time here at this board. I've alread read though alot on this board and it looks like a great resource. Items I am up in the air about include the processor and mother board. I am between an AMD X2 and Opteron Dual core, and between the ASUS A8N-SLI (or A8N32-SLI) or DFI NF4 SLI board...Anyway, below is a link to my initial spec sheet.

Proposed Build
 
T

theMan

Diamond Member
Mar 17, 2005
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just get an opteron 165 and overclock it. get a dfi ultra d (non sli).
 
asm0deus

asm0deus

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Aug 18, 2003
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I was thinking of getting a similar PC (except in SFF) soon, looks good to me, I read like 4 articles about the advantages of dual opteron over the x2's.. meh i think the x2's beat out the lower end opty's in most benchmarks even when they were overclocked. I'm assuming you're going to use the stock cooler for warranty reasons and not be overclocking much. Looks like a solid build.
 
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PSUPef2k

Senior member
Mar 1, 2006
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Originally posted by: asm0deus
I was thinking of getting a similar PC (except in SFF) soon, looks good to me, I read like 4 articles about the advantages of dual opteron over the x2's.. meh i think the x2's beat out the lower end opty's in most benchmarks even when they were overclocked. I'm assuming you're going to use the stock cooler for warranty reasons and not be overclocking much. Looks like a solid build.
Click to expand...

I was leaning towards using either the XP120 w/ thermal take 120MM fan that I have on my current intel, or just keeping that on the intel 3.2e prescott I have (it needs all the cooling it can get) and getting a Zalman to put on this.
 
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PSUPef2k

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Mar 1, 2006
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Originally posted by: theman
just get an opteron 165 and overclock it. get a dfi ultra d (non sli).
Click to expand...

why non SLI? I would like to have that as an option down the road.
 
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PSUPef2k

Senior member
Mar 1, 2006
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Now another issue...

SLI or Crossfire board?

ASUS's new A8R32-MVP board is priced slightly less expensive than the A8N32-SLI...

thoughts on this?
 
C

Centoros

Member
Mar 1, 2006
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That's a good build. If your into OC'ing though, go for an opty 165 otherwise, stick with what you got there.
 
K

KoolDrew

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
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SLI is a waste of money, get rid of the SLI motherbord. Don't waste your money on expensive RAM. Just get cheap Corsair Value Select or something. This will save you a lot of money and won't hurt real-world performance at all. I would switch the PSU with something else. Something like a Seasonic S12-500 would be good. Get rid of the X2 4400+. It is $100 more then th 4200+ just for some extra cache. In most cases this won't help performance at all, so don't even waste your money.
 
K

KoolDrew

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
10,226
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I was leaning towards using either the XP120 w/ thermal take 120MM fan that I have on my current intel, or just keeping that on the intel 3.2e prescott I have (it needs all the cooling it can get) and getting a Zalman to put on this.
Click to expand...

Don't even bother. The stock heatsink for the dual-cores are fantastic. Throw a nice fan on it, lap it, use AS5 and it would perform better then an XP-90. You can see a review here.
 
N

ng12345

Senior member
Jan 23, 2005
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many reviews recommend the benq 1640 or benq 1655 over the nec model that you have there ... more support for media and better overburning with less errors.

the benq1640 costs $1 more than what you have
 
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PSUPef2k

Senior member
Mar 1, 2006
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Originally posted by: KoolDrew
SLI is a waste of money, get rid of the SLI motherbord. Don't waste your money on expensive RAM. Just get cheap Corsair Value Select or something. This will save you a lot of money and won't hurt real-world performance at all. I would switch the PSU with something else. Something like a Seasonic S12-500 would be good. Get rid of the X2 4400+. It is $100 more then th 4200+ just for some extra cache. In most cases this won't help performance at all, so don't even waste your money.
Click to expand...

I didn't specify this before, but a big thing for this build will be gaming. I am not sure if I want to go with cheap ram for that purpose. I had also initially opted to go the way of SLI in order to give the machine the upgrade-ability in the event it becomes extremely beneficial in the gaming world. Pop in another video card and bam! instant awesomeness. I've also read that Cache is extremely impornant and will become increasingly important, which is why I opted for that chip.

Just explaining my reasoning, and please do correct me if I am wrong.
 
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PSUPef2k

Senior member
Mar 1, 2006
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Originally posted by: ng12345
many reviews recommend the benq 1640 or benq 1655 over the nec model that you have there ... more support for media and better overburning with less errors.

the benq1640 costs $1 more than what you have
Click to expand...

I'll check it out.
 
P

PSUPef2k

Senior member
Mar 1, 2006
335
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71
Originally posted by: KoolDrew
I was leaning towards using either the XP120 w/ thermal take 120MM fan that I have on my current intel, or just keeping that on the intel 3.2e prescott I have (it needs all the cooling it can get) and getting a Zalman to put on this.
Click to expand...

Don't even bother. The stock heatsink for the dual-cores are fantastic. Throw a nice fan on it, lap it, use AS5 and it would perform better then an XP-90. You can see a review here.
Click to expand...

that is insane. I wonder how it would compare to the XP-120 though. Still, definitely doesn't make it worth the money to use an aftermarket cooler. I have some AS5 at home.
 
JEDIYoda

JEDIYoda

Lifer
Jul 13, 2005
33,986
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Originally posted by: PSUPef2k
Originally posted by: KoolDrew
I was leaning towards using either the XP120 w/ thermal take 120MM fan that I have on my current intel, or just keeping that on the intel 3.2e prescott I have (it needs all the cooling it can get) and getting a Zalman to put on this.
Click to expand...

Don't even bother. The stock heatsink for the dual-cores are fantastic. Throw a nice fan on it, lap it, use AS5 and it would perform better then an XP-90. You can see a review here.
Click to expand...

that is insane. I wonder how it would compare to the XP-120 though. Still, definitely doesn't make it worth the money to use an aftermarket cooler. I have some AS5 at home.
Click to expand...

Actually the stock heatsink is very nice.
I wouldn`t even bother with adding any AS5...that will not help a bit. Plz don`t point me to reviews that say to the contrary....for every person who says AS5 rocks there another person who say otherwise. Your stock thermal paste or thermal pad will do just fine!!
 
K

KoolDrew

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
10,226
7
81
I am not sure if I want to go with cheap ram for that purpose.
Click to expand...

The difference between the value RAM and some expensive 'performance' RAM is negligible in real-world performance. This has been proved through benchmarks plenty of times in the past. Just don't waste your money; stick with value RAM.

I had also initially opted to go the way of SLI in order to give the machine the upgrade-ability in the event it becomes extremely beneficial in the gaming world. Pop in another video card and bam! instant awesomeness.
Click to expand...

SLI should not be used for future-proofing. By the time you would add another card you would be MUCH better off selling it and buying a new one. This will be cheaper overall and will give you better performance. The only time you should consider going SLI ios if you wanted to use two 6800GS's or you absolutely want the best and have a ton of money to waste. For every other cases SLI isn't a good option.

I've also read that Cache is extremely impornant and will become increasingly important, which is why I opted for that chip.
Click to expand...

Cache is not extremely important. Just look at this review. You can clearly see the extra cache does not help.

I wouldn`t even bother with adding any AS5...that will not help a bit. Plz don`t point me to reviews that say to the contrary....for every person who says AS5 rocks there another person who say otherwise. Your stock thermal paste or thermal pad will do just fine!!
Click to expand...

I have always used AS5 so I really can't compare it to anything else, but since he already has it why not use it? I have heard some people say that after applying AS5 it didn't help at all. I've also heard people say AS5 did help. Never have I heard AS5 being worse then the stock thermal paste. I say, if you already have it, use it.
 
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Bobthelost

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2005
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Yes, compare the clock speeds, if the X2 is cheaper than the opteron then buy the X2. The cache does make a difference, but it's a very small one compared to clock speeds.
 
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PSUPef2k

Senior member
Mar 1, 2006
335
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71
Any other thoughts? I'm leaning more towards the A8N32-SLI deluxe now. Also questioning the Antec P180 as I have read up on it more on here and some people are having cooling issues with that case. May consider the Gigabtye 3d Aurora or CM Stacker STC-T101. Also very undecided on the PSU to choose, as many have informed the the antec TP 2.0 550W is not as reliable as say, an OCZ Powersteam 520.

Definitely have decided on the 4400+ X2 chip to build the system around, and an ASUS SLI board....that is about it.
 
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PSUPef2k

Senior member
Mar 1, 2006
335
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Update:

Gigabyte 3d Aurora Case
OCZ PowerStream 520W PSU
ASUS A8N32-SLI
Opteron 170
OCZ Platinum 2GB (2x1GB) memory
eVGA 7900 GTX
74GB WD Raptor (OS & Software)
300GB WD SATA HDD (storage)
NEC 3550A DVD Burner
X-fi Xtreeme Music sound card

And the icing to be added later: Klipsch Pro Media Ultra 5.1 Surround Sound System

What do you think?

 
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